Rise in Leopard Population in India: Fifth Estimation Cycle Reveals Insights

GS Paper III Biodiversity

Context:

India’s leopard population rose by 8% from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022, according to a report made public by the Environment Ministry.

The Indian Leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) is a leopard subspecies that is widespread throughout the Indian subcontinent.
They are the smallest of the big cats.
They are noted for their capacity to adapt to a range of environments.
They are strong and agile predators capable of climbing trees and dragging their victim to safety.
Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List).
Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

The highest number of leopards were reported in Madhya Pradesh (3,907).
Involved Organisations: The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), along with State Forest Departments, estimated the leopard population for the fifth cycle.
Coverage of the survey: Leopard Population concentrated on roughly 70% of the animals’ predicted habitat and encompassed 18 states in India. The estimation covered the main areas for tiger conservation—forested habitats—within 18 tiger states. High Himalayan and non-forested areas were not included.
Methods used: 85,488 photos of leopards were taken using camera traps at 32,803 places and a thorough foot survey covering 6,41,449 km. These photos offer important information on the distribution and abundance of leopards.

Population Estimate: 13,874 leopards are thought to exist in India, a stable number when compared to the 2018 estimate.
- Remarkably, this estimate encompasses 70% of the habitat used by leopards; it does not include locations like the Himalayas or semi-arid areas.
Geographical Trends: The population of Central India is constant or slightly increasing, although areas such as the Shivalik hills and Gangetic plains are declining.
- The selected areas are growing at a rate of 1.08% annually overall.
Distribution by State: With 3907 (2018: 3421) leopards, Madhya Pradesh has the highest population in the nation. It is followed by Maharashtra (2022: 1985; 2018: 1,690), Karnataka (2022: 1,879; 2018: 1,783), and Tamil Nadu (2022: 1,070; 2018: 868).
Environment: The tiger reserves or locations with the greatest concentration of leopards are Satpura (AP), Panna (MP), and Nagarjunasagar Srisailam (AP).
Declining Population: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and West Bengal recorded a combined 150% increase to 349 large cats, whereas Uttarakhand reported a 22% fall in big cat numbers, presumably due to poaching and man-animal conflict.

News Source: The Hindu

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